Jupiter is one of the objects guests can view more closely.

For Five Weeks, There Will Be “No Night Without a Telescope”

For five consecutive Fridays beginning Oct. 23, West Chester University will give stargazers a closer look at the heavens.

“No Night Without a Telescope” is a collaboration among seven local colleges and the Franklin Institute to open the area’s astronomical resources to the public every day of the week in celebration of the International Year of Astronomy. Between Oct. 18 and Nov. 22, every evening will feature an astronomy event that can be enjoyed by all ages.

Astronomers at West Chester and members of the Chester County Astronomical Society will help the public identify such objects as star clusters and bring into focus Jupiter and its moons as well as our own moon. Depending on the location and the weather, the free programs will either be observing the stars with a telescope or public presentations on astronomy.

West Chester University astronomer Bob Thornton points out that West Chester may have an advantage over the other participating institutions: darker skies, since the campus is farther away from city lights.

“We should be one of the better locations for identifying constellations with the naked eye.”

Thornton notes that at the WCU events, astronomers will set up their portable telescopes on the Academic Quad (weather permitting) so the public can observe objects in the night sky. Anyone who has a telescope is welcome to bring theirs. Some of the other participating universities may use portable telescopes or their observatories.

“No Night Without a Telescope” brings the International Year of Astronomy closer to home for many amateur astronomers. IYA marks the 400th anniversary of the first use of an astronomical telescope by Galileo Galilei, whose observations of Jupiter, Venus and other celestial bodies revolutionized our view of the Universe.

West Chester’s programs begin Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. and run two hours on that date and Oct. 30. After Daylight Savings Time ends, stargazing sessions will begin at 6 p.m. for Friday, Nov. 6, 13 and 20. All sessions are free and open to the public, who should dress for a chilly outdoor evening.
In case of clouds or rain, the program will move to Merion Science Center Room 113 or the University's Planetarium for a public presentation. Notification as to whether the program will be outside or inside will be posted here by 5 p.m. each Friday.

To enjoy an astronomy outing every night of the week, here are the other locations: Mondays – Widener; Tuesdays – Swarthmore; Wednesdays – Drexel; Thursdays - The Franklin Institute; Fridays - West Chester; Saturdays - Haverford and Penn; Sundays – Villanova.

Click here for more details on the event.